Source: The Hindustan Times NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 5, 2002: The Supreme Court has ruled that brahmins do not have a monopoly over performing puja in a temple and said a non-brahmin, properly trained and well-versed with the rituals, could be appointed as a pujari (temple priest). “As long as anyone well-versed and properly trained and qualified to perform the…
Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, October 7, 2002: It was a little awkward at first, but one-by-one people of many faiths, from all corners of the city, removed their shoes and walked a path toward understanding. Almost 200 people participated Sunday afternoon in Hindu 101 at the BAPS Swami Narayan Sanstha Hindu temple on Paul Jones Avenue as…
Source: Fiji Daily Post SUVA, FIJI, October 1, 2002: It will be another quiet Deepavali this year, with government deciding not to lift a ban on fireworks. Although the minister for commerce, Tomasi Vuetilovoni, said firecrackers could be used for special events once permission was granted, there will still be no firecrackers this Deepavali. Deepavali, the Hindu Festival of Lights,…
GO TO SOURCE GANDHINAGAR, INDIA, October 7, 2002: On Monday, the Akshardham temple complex at Gandhinagar was a picture of serenity. Throughout the day, people kept filtering in through the main gate and almost all visited the main temple and exhibition halls. Had the metal detectors and armed security personnel been absent, one would not have guessed that this was…
Source: Rajiv Malik DELHI, INDIA, October 3, 2002: A program entitled Peace and Harmony, a Festival of Songs was presented jointly yesterday by the Sarvodaya International Trust, New Delhi Chapter, and India International Centre. Children groups of New Delhi’s eleven prestigious public schools presented songs dedicated to the memory of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The songs were…
GO TO SOURCE WASHINGTON, D.C., October 1, 2002: Seven of Bali’s top Hindu dancers arrived in the United States recently to commence a five-week national tour beginning October 1 near Washington, D. C. Heading the troupe is one of Bali’s oldest, best known and highly respected dancers, Ni Ketuk Cenik. The Master Dancers of Bali – an exposition of the…
GO TO SOURCE SARAJEVO, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, October 7, 2002: Cardinal Vinko Puljic, archbishop of Sarajevo, has been discussing with representatives of European episcopates the difficulty of coexistence with Islam. The cardinal has been the host of the plenary assembly of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). Excerpts from this very informative interview: Q: How are relations between Catholics and Muslims…
Source: Dr. Hari Bansh Jha, Hinduism Today Correspondent KATHMANDU, NEPAL, October 8, 2002: At Hotel Everest Sheraton in Kathmandu, the capital city of world’s only Hindu Kingdom Nepal, the three-day 15th Executive Committee Meeting of World Hindu Federation (WHF) commenced on September 9 with the objective of giving new life to the world body. Attended by delegates of OMKAR family…
GO TO SOURCE NEW YORK, NEW YORK, October 6, 2002: Since most Balinese dances are centuries old, people attend performances not so much for the stories as for the chance to see different interpretations of familiar roles. They judge the artists mainly on the eloquence of hand gestures and facial expressions. After so many years, Ms. Cenik has developed an…
GO TO SOURCE COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, October 4, 2002: In the wake of Buddhist leaders in Sri Lanka exerting pressure on the prime minister and the government to rescind the visas of Christian missionaries and ban conversions to Christianity, Gospel for Asia has asked their followers to pray to keep Christian missionaries active in Sri Lanka (see their website at…